Tool Libraries

Libraries of tools can be maintained in the system tab's Tools folder.

Multiple libraries can be defined. This may be useful to group tools for specific purposes, materials or drawing units.
It may also be convenient to create a master library of all tools, then smaller libraries or 'palettes', customised to
specific jobs, into which tools from the master library can be copied.

Tool libraries can be specified in CamBam drawings in the Machining options or Part objects. Libraries
specified at the Part level will take precedence over any set at the Machining level.

Each machining operation can specify a Tool Number. This number is used to look up information about that particular tool
in the relevant tool library.

If no tool library is specified in the drawing, the default libraries will be searched for entries of this tool number.
The default libraries are labelled 'Default-in' and 'Default-mm', where the units of the current drawing will be used
to choose the correct library according to the '-in' or '-mm' suffix.

Tool numbers can also be set at the Machining and Part levels.
If a tool number is set at the machining level, this will be the default tool, used by all parts and machining operations,
unless explicitly set in the part or machining operation. The tool selected for the part will override any default
machining tools and will be used for all operations within the part, unless they contain non zero tool numbers.

The tool definitions in the tool library contain information such as tool diameters and profiles, which can be used
in the referring machining operation. If the tool diameter or profile is set explicitly in the machining operation
then this will take precedence over the information from the tool library.

It is possible to use tool numbers without having any matching entries in the tool libraries. In these cases
the tool diameter and profile must be defined in the machining operation.

Managing tools

Like the other system libraries, new tools and tool libraries can be create from the context menus presented
when right clicking the system tab's Tools folder and tool library sub folders.

Tool Properties

Tool libraries and definitions are a relatively new addition to CamBam. Some of the properties available in the tool definitions
are intended for future functionality, but for the current release can be considered for informational use only.

Axial Depth Of CutInformational

The maximum (Z) depth of cut for this tool.

CoatingInformational

Comment[New! 0.9.8N]

This is a text value that can be included by the post processor when using the {$tool.comment} macro from with the ToolChange post processor section.

Diameter

The diameter of the cutting part of the tool. This will be used to calculate toolpath offsets. For V cutters, this should be set to the diameter
of the cut at typical depths of cut.

Flute LengthInformational

The length of the cutting part of the tool.

FlutesInformational

The number of cutting teeth or flutes.

Helix AngleInformational

The helix angle for spiral type cutters.

Index

The tool number that uniquely identifies the tool within the library. The tool index will be used when looking up tool numbers
referenced with the CamBam drawings.

The tool index will also be used within gcode when signalling tool changes etc. This should be set to match
any corresponding tool tables used by the controller which may contain tool height offsets etc.

LengthInformational

The total length of the tool that typically extends from the collet.

MaterialInformational

Material from which the cutter is made.

Max Ramp AngleInformational

The maximum ramp angle. To be used for lead move calculations in future releases.

Name

The descriptive name of the tool which will be used in drop down tool selection lists within the drawing.

The name can be automatically calculated from tool diameter, profile and other parameters
by using the Tool Name Format property of the parent tool library.

NotesInformational

Free format text notes relating to the tool.

Part CodeInformational

A general identifier that may be useful to relate the tool to an external library or tooling catalogue.

Radial Depth Of CutInformational

The maximum 'stepover' to be used by this cutter for crossover cuts.

Shank DiameterInformational

The diameter of the non cutting shank of the tool.

Tool Change

The tool change property may contain text that will be used in the post processor when a tool change condition occurs.

The code in this property will be output to the gcode file and will be used in preference to the default tool change
definitions specified in the post processor (for this tool only).

Tool Profile

The shape of the tool profile:End MillBull NoseBall NoseV-CutterDrillLathe

Tooth LoadInformational

Feed per tooth. Intended for use in automatic speed and feed calculations in future releases.

Vee AngleInformational

The angle of the V cutter.

Tool numbering and naming

Tools can be re-numbered by simply changing their index number in the property grid. If the number entered already exists, the numbers of the following tools will be staggered.

It is also possible to automatically rename using an expression entered into the tool libraries Tool Name Format property.
The expression can contain the following macros:

The tool name will be recalculated whenever the tool properties have changed. It is also possible to rename all the tools if the format expression has changed
by using the Rename all tools from the tool library context menu.

The following image shows the tools renamed using the following format expression.